The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the largest aircraft carrier in the world, navigates the Ionian Sea on October 4, 2023. U.S. Navy Photo.
The White House announced Monday that the Navy’s newest Ford-class aircraft carriers will be named after former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The future USS William J. Clinton and USS George W. Bush will become the fifth and sixth ships of the Ford-class fleet, which is slated to replace the aging Nimitz-class carriers currently in operation.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised the decision, stating that the names honor “historically significant commanders in chief who served our country with determination and dedication.” While the White House publicized the announcement, the authority to name Navy ships ultimately resides with the Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro.
In addition to these carriers, Del Toro announced several other ship names, including three Virginia-class submarines named after the Potomac River, Norfolk, Virginia, and Brooklyn, New York, as well as a Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine named after Groton, Connecticut. These decisions highlight the Navy’s efforts to honor both historical figures and geographic regions with significant ties to naval history.
The Ford-class carriers are already taking shape, with the USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise under construction and the USS Doris Miller, the fourth in the class, scheduled to begin construction next year. Named after Pearl Harbor hero Messman Second Class Doris Miller, the USS Doris Miller pays tribute to the first Black Navy Cross recipient, whose bravery during World War II left an enduring legacy.
These announcements reflect the Navy’s commitment to honoring individuals and places that have played vital roles in the nation’s history while preparing the fleet for the challenges of the future.